Difference between revisions of "Vasilis Chatzipanagis"
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[[Image:Chatzipanagis-Koudas.jpg|frame|Vasilis Chatzipanagis with [[Giorgos Koudas]]]] | [[Image:Chatzipanagis-Koudas.jpg|frame|Vasilis Chatzipanagis with [[Giorgos Koudas]]]] | ||
| − | Born in the USSR to Greek immigrant parents [[Vasilis Chatzipanagis]], a.k.a. "Vasia" played for a local club team and was capped in the USSR U-21 side. He was aware of his Greek heritage and wanted more than anything to play in Greece. So after trying out for various teams, he ended up playing for [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis Salonika]] in the | + | Born in the USSR to Greek immigrant parents [[Vasilis Chatzipanagis]], a.k.a. "Vasia" played for a local club team and was capped in the USSR U-21 side. He was aware of his Greek heritage and wanted more than anything to play in Greece. So after trying out for various teams, he ended up playing for [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis Salonika]] in the mid 70s through the late 80s. He is widely considered the best Greek player ever. He led Iraklis to a cup victory (against Olympiakos in 1976) and added the extra edge making the team competitive for the league title every year. [Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]] tried to buy him but Iraklis did not sell. |
Vasia is so revered he has received the title of "The Greek Maradona" as he played the same position and was an absolute magician with the ball. In the end Iraklis never had any success in European Championships and he never received any exposure outside of Greece. He was also never allowed to play for the nt as he had played a few games for the USSR U-21 and UEFA forbid him from playing for the Greek [[National Football team]]. Lack of exposure outside the boundaries of Greece - who at the time was considered a poor footballing nation - hurt Vasia's chances to gain the fame that he so deserved. | Vasia is so revered he has received the title of "The Greek Maradona" as he played the same position and was an absolute magician with the ball. In the end Iraklis never had any success in European Championships and he never received any exposure outside of Greece. He was also never allowed to play for the nt as he had played a few games for the USSR U-21 and UEFA forbid him from playing for the Greek [[National Football team]]. Lack of exposure outside the boundaries of Greece - who at the time was considered a poor footballing nation - hurt Vasia's chances to gain the fame that he so deserved. | ||
He played in 281 games of the Greek championship and scored 61 times. He started with Pahtakor before he came to Greece. He played only once with the Greek [[National football team]] in 1976 against Poland (1-0) in Athens and again, this because he had played with the Olympic team of the USSR. | He played in 281 games of the Greek championship and scored 61 times. He started with Pahtakor before he came to Greece. He played only once with the Greek [[National football team]] in 1976 against Poland (1-0) in Athens and again, this because he had played with the Olympic team of the USSR. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Career Milestones == | ||
| + | *'''November 22, 1975:''' Vasilis arrives in Thessaloniki. Fans greet him at 2:00 A.M. at the Thessaloniki train station chanting ''Vasili Kalosorises!'' (Welcome Vasilis!). | ||
| + | *'''December 7, 1975:''' He plays his first game for Iraklis against Atromitos Athens (1-1). The game was held at the National Stadium of Veria. | ||
| + | *'''March 28, 1976:''' He scores for the first time wearing the Iraklis shirt (69' shot) The first goalkeeper that had to gather the ball from deep inside his nets was [[Panagiotis Pantelis]]. | ||
| + | *'''May 6, 1976:''' The only time Chatzipanagis plays wearing the Greek [[National Football team]] shirt in a friendly game against Poland - Greece wins 1-0. | ||
| + | *'''June 9, 1976:''' Vasilis Chatzipanagis leads Iraklis to a win over Olympiakos in the Greek Cup final. VAsilis scored two goals for Iraklis (25', 111') The game ended 4-4 in overtime and Iraklis won 6-5 in a penalties shootout. | ||
| + | *'''September 26, 1982:''' Vasilis scores from a direct corner kick - 8th minute against Olympiakos (Nikos Sarganis was goalie). Iraklis wins game 3-1. Vasilis went on to score a record breaking 6 goals from direct corner kicks that season. | ||
| + | *'''Summer 1984, New York:'''Vasilis Chatzipanagis joins the World team, and represents Greece with [[Thomas Mavros]]. | ||
| + | *'''March 2, 1986:''' Vasilis' scores Iraklis' 1000th goal in the A' Division (after the ball hit the crossbar. Iraklis - Olympiakos 3-1) | ||
| + | *'''December 11, 1988:''' Diagoras Rhodes - Iraklis 2-1. Vasilis scores his last (62nd) goal for Iraklis in a championship game. | ||
| + | *'''December 31, 1988:''' Iraklis - AEK 0-0. Vasilis plays his last championship game for Iraklis (281 game appearances). After the game ''even God cried!'' | ||
| + | *'''September 12, 1990:''' Iraklis - Niki Volos 4-0. Chatzipanagis scores (penalty 53'). | ||
| + | *'''September 19, 1990 - Kaftatzoglio Stadium:''' Iraklis - Valencia 0-0 for UEFA Cup. This was the first and last appearance for the ''magician'' in a European tournament. | ||
| + | *'''December 14, 1999:''' Greece - Ghana 1-1. A friendly game in honor of Vasilis Chatzipanagis who had his 2nd international cap in 23 years, 7 months and 8 days! Vasilis played for 22 minutes and was replaced by [[Costas Frantzeskos]]. The coach for Greece was [[Vasilis Daniil]]. | ||
Revision as of 03:12, July 26, 2005
Vasilis Chatzipanagis with Giorgos Koudas
Born in the USSR to Greek immigrant parents Vasilis Chatzipanagis, a.k.a. "Vasia" played for a local club team and was capped in the USSR U-21 side. He was aware of his Greek heritage and wanted more than anything to play in Greece. So after trying out for various teams, he ended up playing for Iraklis Salonika in the mid 70s through the late 80s. He is widely considered the best Greek player ever. He led Iraklis to a cup victory (against Olympiakos in 1976) and added the extra edge making the team competitive for the league title every year. [Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]] tried to buy him but Iraklis did not sell.
Vasia is so revered he has received the title of "The Greek Maradona" as he played the same position and was an absolute magician with the ball. In the end Iraklis never had any success in European Championships and he never received any exposure outside of Greece. He was also never allowed to play for the nt as he had played a few games for the USSR U-21 and UEFA forbid him from playing for the Greek National Football team. Lack of exposure outside the boundaries of Greece - who at the time was considered a poor footballing nation - hurt Vasia's chances to gain the fame that he so deserved.
He played in 281 games of the Greek championship and scored 61 times. He started with Pahtakor before he came to Greece. He played only once with the Greek National football team in 1976 against Poland (1-0) in Athens and again, this because he had played with the Olympic team of the USSR.
Career Milestones
- November 22, 1975: Vasilis arrives in Thessaloniki. Fans greet him at 2:00 A.M. at the Thessaloniki train station chanting Vasili Kalosorises! (Welcome Vasilis!).
- December 7, 1975: He plays his first game for Iraklis against Atromitos Athens (1-1). The game was held at the National Stadium of Veria.
- March 28, 1976: He scores for the first time wearing the Iraklis shirt (69' shot) The first goalkeeper that had to gather the ball from deep inside his nets was Panagiotis Pantelis.
- May 6, 1976: The only time Chatzipanagis plays wearing the Greek National Football team shirt in a friendly game against Poland - Greece wins 1-0.
- June 9, 1976: Vasilis Chatzipanagis leads Iraklis to a win over Olympiakos in the Greek Cup final. VAsilis scored two goals for Iraklis (25', 111') The game ended 4-4 in overtime and Iraklis won 6-5 in a penalties shootout.
- September 26, 1982: Vasilis scores from a direct corner kick - 8th minute against Olympiakos (Nikos Sarganis was goalie). Iraklis wins game 3-1. Vasilis went on to score a record breaking 6 goals from direct corner kicks that season.
- Summer 1984, New York:Vasilis Chatzipanagis joins the World team, and represents Greece with Thomas Mavros.
- March 2, 1986: Vasilis' scores Iraklis' 1000th goal in the A' Division (after the ball hit the crossbar. Iraklis - Olympiakos 3-1)
- December 11, 1988: Diagoras Rhodes - Iraklis 2-1. Vasilis scores his last (62nd) goal for Iraklis in a championship game.
- December 31, 1988: Iraklis - AEK 0-0. Vasilis plays his last championship game for Iraklis (281 game appearances). After the game even God cried!
- September 12, 1990: Iraklis - Niki Volos 4-0. Chatzipanagis scores (penalty 53').
- September 19, 1990 - Kaftatzoglio Stadium: Iraklis - Valencia 0-0 for UEFA Cup. This was the first and last appearance for the magician in a European tournament.
- December 14, 1999: Greece - Ghana 1-1. A friendly game in honor of Vasilis Chatzipanagis who had his 2nd international cap in 23 years, 7 months and 8 days! Vasilis played for 22 minutes and was replaced by Costas Frantzeskos. The coach for Greece was Vasilis Daniil.